12 Heartwarming Movies That Celebrate the Father-Daughter Bond

As they say, a dad is a daughter's first love, traits of whom she often looks for in a prospective partner. The special, unique relationship that a father and daughter share is like none other. And, while cinema often highlights a mother and child bond, a few gems have touched upon the connection between dads and their little girls. If you're a daddy's girl, watch these films—that capture the essence of this inexplicable attachment—with your man. 

 

1. Piku (2015)

 

 

The Shoojit Sircar directorial offers a close-to-reality representation of the beautiful—yet complicated—relationship between a father and daughter of Bengali descent. Despite their disparate ideologies and fights over trivial issues, Piku and her father, Bhaskor Banerjee, manage to exist under the same roof, all in the name of love and family. 

 

2. What a Girl Wants (2003)

 

 

In search of the father that she never knew, American teenager Daphne takes a trip to the United Kingdom in hopes of establishing a bond with him. 

 

3. Definitely, Maybe (2008)

 

 

A 30-something father in the midst of a divorce is questioned by his ten-year-old daughter about his life before marriage. Will Hayes (played by Ryan Reynolds) flashes back to 1992 and recounts his romances with three women, changing their names so that his daughter must guess which one ended up becoming his wife.

 

4. Dangal (2016)

 

 

Mahavir Singh Phogat, a former wrestler, decides to fulfil his dream of winning a gold medal for his country by training his two daughters for the Commonwealth Games, despite the existing social stigmas against women sportspersons. 

 

5. Fatherhood (2021)

 

 

A father brings up his baby girl as a single dad after the unexpected death of his wife, who died a day after their daughter was born.

 

6. Gunjan Saxena: The Kargil Girl (2020)

 

 

An ambitious Gunjan Saxena dreams of becoming a pilot after being drawn by the idea of a life in a cockpit. Despite facing reservations, she fulfils her dream—with the exceptional support of her father—and serves the country in the Kargil War.

 

7. Mamma Mia! (2008)

 

 

As Sophie and her family are busy preparing for her wedding, she secretly invites three men—who were her mother's lovers in the past—with the hope that one of them is her father.

 

8. Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (1998)

 

 

After reading the letter her mother had written for her before she died, Anjali decides to bring together her widowed father, Rahul, with his true love who is also named Anjali. And amidst this journey of bringing two estranged friends together, young Anjali and her father's relationship grows. 

 

9. Blended (2014)

 

 

Single mother Lauren and single father Jim plan a holiday to South Africa with their respective children, where they also end up developing feelings for each other. However, amidst this romance, the film also touches upon the efforts that go into bringing up children as single parents.

 

10. Angrezi Medium (2020)

 

 

Though Champak (played by Irrfan Khan) initially disapproves, he eventually does everything in his power—while going through a series of hilarious mishaps—to fulfil his daughter's dream of going to London to study further.

 

11. Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga (2019)

 

 

Sweety (played by Sonam Kapoor) hides a secret about her true love and decides to marry a writer to please her father, Balbir Chaudhary (played by Anil Kapoor). However, chaos ensues when she decides to fight her family and society to win her love.

 

12. Father of the Bride (1991)

 

 

George Banks (played by Steve Martin) leads the perfect life with his wife, daughter, and son. However, when Annie, his daughter, decides to get married, he has a hard time letting go of her.